Why game 5 is a must-win for San Jose

I've been there before. I'm one of the thousands upon thousands of people currently -- and rather unfortunately -- cheering for the Chicago Cubs. There is a certain feeling of inevitability with the Cubs. Our self-destruction is not a matter of if, but rather when.

In 2003, the Chicago Cubs were 5 outs away from exercising their historical demons and joining the party in the World Series. They had their best pitcher on the mound. They had a 2 run lead. Unfortunately, they also had Alex Gonzalez at shortstop. After his botched attempt at starting a double play, the Cubs collapsed. They fell apart. Every Cub fan that has cheered for the team for any length of time had the same thought at the same time: we're done.

Fans of the Sharks are new to this playoff choking business. They've only been around for a few years. The franchise's entire history isn't an idiot's guide to despair and failure. We had a game 7 to go -- a game 7 at home, no less -- but every Cubs fan knew it was done. We still had our second best pitcher, a stud in his own right, lined up to pitch that crucial game. We still all knew it was over.

If the Sharks let this series get back to Detroit, I think panic mode would officially be turned on. I don't know if the feeling of complete despair will set in at that point for Sharks fans, but I imagine they'll be awfully tense in a potential game 6 as they watch from bars and homes across northern California. That's why Saturday's game 5 is a must-win.

They still have a choke-hold on the series. They'll have fans that are still too excited about a potential Conference Finals appearance to be so desperately tense that the fear in the building becomes palpable. They need to come out hungry, because Detroit has nothing left to lose.

If it gets to game 6, everything changes. Going back on the road, to a raucous Detroit crowd, and against a team with everything to gain...yeah. That's a recipe for disaster. It's hard to get out of your own head when you're in the position of the Sharks.

If it gets to game 7...well...as I said. I've been there before. Cub fans were so afraid that they were about to become another punchline of yet another joke that they were dead. San Jose's history makes it hard to believe that a game 7 at home for them would be any different. There is a certain culture of losing that almost undoubtedly infiltrates the collective consciousness of the team. They're all aware of their history. Now it's up to the players to change it.